Van Gaal wants to carry on. He said as much after the game during a press conference where it seemed like it might all have become too much. But he knows that, ultimately, it’s not his choice.

That falls to executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the ruling Glazer family. And they are looking at the most crucial decision of their time in charge at Old Trafford.

In the end, it was easy to sack David Moyes. The Champions League was mathematically out of reach and the Scotsman had no real history to fall back on.

Louis van Gaal's team has gone six games without a win. (Image: Nigel French/PA Wire)

But Van Gaal is a Champions League winner. A champion in Holland, Spain and Germany. He’s the man who stabilised a rocking ship when he came in 18 months ago. He’s also been backed in the transfer market to the tune of £250m. This time, the decision will feel much harder to make.

Context is everything. After 17 games in 2013/14, Moyes had 28 points. But United were seventh and, seemingly, already fighting a losing battle to finish in the top four. They’ve only got one more point after the same number of games this season but, crucially, have only just slipped into fifth.

David Moyes was sacked after 10 months.

As a side note, Moyes was still in the Champions League and the League Cup at Christmas. Van Gaal, United fans won’t need reminding, is not.

It was an easy decision to sack Moyes. So much so that, in the end, it wasn’t really a decision at all. The reasons to keep him in the job had ceased to be long before he was officially informed of his fate.

Van Gaal, on the other hand, has done some good at Old Trafford. United will still fancy their chances of finishing in the top four. And, in theory, they could still challenge for a title that it seems only Leicester want to win.

Jose Mourinho left Chelsea for a second time last week.

But Woodward’s finger could be tightening on the trigger for fear that United might get left behind. It’s possible that next season will start with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Diego Simeone at Chelsea and Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

United need to be able to compete in that world, and, like it or not, there will be a temptation to look to Jose Mourinho, with all his experience and winners medals. Ryan Giggs may well be the long-term choice, but it still feels too soon.

It’s the duty of Woodward and the Glazers to do whatever they can to show United are still as big a club as all the impressive sponsorship deals suggest they are. They’ve got a decision to make. A big one.